Distributing-canopy for electric wiring.



J. N. PIERCE & E. L. E. FRANCISCO. DISTRIBUTING oANoPY PoR ELECTRIC WIRING. APPLICTION FILED 001229, 1910.

1,053,745. Patented Feb.18,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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be cleared of the knock-out plug 24, and conduit members 27, secured in the openings b y the usual bushings and lock nuts 29; whereas when it is desired to run the local wiring on cleats, suitable ones of the outlet openings in the head 22 may be cleared of their plugs 2f, bushed with appropriate bushings 30, and branch wiring run through the cleats 31, of well known form, secured upon the head 22, as by screws or bolts 32, engaging in the apertures 26 aforesaid.

The large central opening 23 in the head 22 is overlaid by a cover or cap, 33, preferably of cup form, preferably formed of sheet metal and of diameter somewhat greater than that ofthel opening 23. Such cap, 33, is secured to the head 22, by screws, 34, extending through the cap and engaging the head just beyond the aperture 23. Obviously, the removal of the cap gives direct access to the interior of the canopy, and outlet box, and while the cap is in place, the canopy` body is substantially sealed. Preferably, a knock-out plug, 33', is provided in cap 33, so that the cap may readily be fitted with a drop cord or the like.

For attaching the canopy body to the ears l2 of the outlet box, We provide suitable means involving arcuate slots in a horizontal plate of the detachable structure, said slots receiving screws which engage the outlet box ears, and said screws serving, when tightened, to clamp the detachable structure in any desired position of rotary adjustment about its axis. In practice, it is preferable in some instances to employ a metallic base plate to lie between the ceiling and the edges of the wall 21, as, for instance, where the ceiling 11 is of Wood and plaster construction, butin other instances, the edge wall 21 may directly coperate with the ceiling 1,1, as where the ceiling is of cement, metal, or other fire-proof material. ln the specific construction shown in Fig. 2, Where no base plate is employed, the head 22 constitutes ,the horizontal planar member of the detachable canopy structure which is provided with arcuate slots 36, each preferably of about 90o in extent, located close to the lip 23 of opening 23, and receiving the long screws 37, which directly engage threaded apertures in the ears, 12, of the outlet box. Obviously, when such screws are tightened, they clamp the edges of the wall`21 of canopy 20 closely against the ceiling 11 and retain the removable canopy in predetermined set position, so adjusted that the outlets face in desired direction, the heads of the screws 37 themselves being covered by the cap 33, and thereby protected against tampering or accidental loosening. lin the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4e, a base plate 38 is provided to lie between theceiling 11 and the edge of Wall 21, of the canopy body, said plate being of somewhat greater diameter than the canopy body, and having a4 central opening 39, registering with the outlet box, and surrounded by an upturned lip 39 to enter the outlet box inside of the ears 12. Such base plate, when used, as connected to the body part of the removable structure by screws 40, located preferably at a radial distance from the center of the body less than the radius of the outlet-box wall, as indicated in Fig. 4, the base plate 38 having made therein the arcuate openings, 36', to receive short screws,37, effecting connection for rotary adjustment between the detachable canopy structure and the ears of the outlet box.

In practice, in eqnippilg a manufacturing building, or the like, Wpreferably wire each outlet box for the capacity of as large a number of lamps as may poswbly be needed within the area to be supplied by the outlet, and thence to distribute, through the canopy, such branch connections as are immediately needed. Obviously, from time to time, any number of connections up to the maximum may be added to' meet the requirements of increased illumination.

lVhile, for convenient illustration, the canopy is herein referred to particularly in its use lin electric lighting installations, it will be obvious that its use is not limited in this regard, and that its structure may be varied in details of construction andv arrangement without departure from the spirit of ourinvention and within the scope of thev appended claims.

Having described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The combination with an outlet box, of a canopy detachably secured thereto Colnprising a hollow body of larger diameter than the outlet box, having an opening in its head, and outlets in its Walls; a cover for said head opening, and means for attachment of said body to the outlet box at a plurality of separated points, said attaching means having rota-rily-shiftable connection with one of said parts to permit limited rotary adjustment of the body relative to the box.

2. The combination with an outlet box, of a detachable canopy structure, comprising a body having outlets in its Walls and a head opening; a detachable cover for said head opening; and means for attaching said canopy to said outlet box for angular adjustment about its axis, comprising screws engaging the outlet box and seated in arcuate slots in a plane portion of the canopy structure.

3. The combination with an outlet box providing inturned ears, of a detachable distributing canopy comprising a body of larger diameter than the outlet box, having side walls and an annular head, said body having outlets therein; a cap overlying the opening of the annular head; means to retain said cap; and means to connect the detachable canopy structure with the ears of the outlet box, comprising screws engag- 10 ing said ears at their threaded ends', and at hands.

JOSEPH NORMAN Pinnen. Fannie L. n. FRANCISCO.

In the presence of- MARY F. ALLEN, W. LINN ALLEN` 

